VHS : El Dorado [1967]

Rating: - Good - not great
John Wayne plays Cole Thornton a hired gun who turns down a job to work for Bart Jason, as this would mean fighting his old mate J.P. (Robert Mitchum). In the end he fights with J.P. and Mississipi (James Caan) against Jason.

Essentially this is virtual remake of Rio Bravo, and it isn't as good. Mitchum takes the Dean Martin role and James Cann the Ricky Nelson role. However Howard Hawks was a great filmmaker and he manages to make this a worthwhile and very entertaining movie in its own right.

John Wayne is starting to show his age in this film. He was close to 60 when it was made, and Mitchum who was 10 years younger steals the film from Wayne. The kill or cure drunk cure for J.P. is probably the best scene in the film, and Mitchum plays it brilliantly. There are good supporting roles from the lovely Michele Carey as Joey and Arthur Hunnictt as 'Bull'.

So if you liked Rio Bravo, you'll like this. It isn't quite the masterpiece Rio Bravo was but its a lot better than most.

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Rating: - A Very Entertaining Western
EL DORADO has a lot of good elements such as an interesting story, gripping suspense and above all, excellent acting. Besides John Wayne in the role of a professional gunfighter and Robert Mitchum as the sheriff of El Dorado, the film has a strong supporting cast which includes James Caan, Charlene Holt, Paul Fix, Arthur Hunnicutt, Michele Carey and John Mitchum. The latter is the younger brother of Robert Mitchum. In this movie John playa a bartender. He has more than 200 movie and TV appearances to his credit as well as stints as a singer and song writer.

Robert Mitchum can play a drunk trying to cope with a hangover as well as anybody in movie. Howard Hawkes is best remembered for his direction of SERGEANT YORK.

I always thought thought that EL DORADO deserved a high rating even though it failed to receive any Oscar nominations in 1967. The Academy Award competition in that year was dominated by BONNIE AND CLYDE, THE GRADUATE and IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT.

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Rating: - Highly warming escapism from Wayne and Mitchum at their best
This is an unashamed remake of Rio Bravo that really does came off. For me, El Dorado, Rio Bravo and The Searchers all have at least this in common. When you've finished watching them you feel highly rewarded, but can't necessarily identify why. In El Dorado John Wayne's interaction comes over much stronger with Bob Mitchum than it did with Dean Martin in Rio Bravo. In part it may have been the scripts, but here we have some really strong performances. Unfortunately for James Caan, Wayne and Mitchum both have such tremendous screen presence that he is really up against it. Nevertheless he produces a character that is strong, essential, and entertaining, even though at times you do feel that it's only because Duke Wayne was feeling deposed towards letting him have the space necessary to make it happen. Mitchum on the other hand creates his own space whether Wayne likes it or not. Quite definitely a film for the private collection to be pulled out when you're feeling down and want a pick-me-up. Best viewed after dark with a glass of wine.

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Rating: - Extremely enjoyable and funny with some cracking action
This is an extremely enjoyable and funny film - hilarious in parts - with some great oneliners and a couple of running jokes involving Caan. All the main characters spark well off each other...Wayne, Mitchum, Hunnicut and Caan (who does well to hold his own as a relative newcomer on the same set as Wayne and Mitchum) are all on excellent form with Mitchum in particular, looking as if he was made for the part. Works for me everytime....great fun!